Going to be heading down to the game this weekend, got a few questions for you.
1. Im staying at the Hilton Park Cities or something like that, what is in the area around that hotel. 2. How close is it to the stadium. 3. How is parking / tailgating areas at the stadium. 4. Has anyone done the "self guided" tour of Cowboy Stadium? How is it?
I am driving down with three others, getting into town around 4pm, and leaving right after the game, what all MUST I do rather than watch the Herd win.
I think that is SMU's pregame Hotel. Very nice smaller Hotel. Its in an office complex area that surrounds shopping center but not really huge shopping mall. Safe area next to upper class neighborhood. I believe they have some nice restaurants on site and a chain Macaroni Grill down the street. Just off the "Tollway" which provides easy access. About 2-3 miles from campus-an easy 5-8 minute drive through neighborhood streets. The Boulevard is our tailgating area. Its really more like a park environment down a long corridor in the center of the university. Probably one of the best settings you will ever find. Its not your typical parking lot tailgatting. Just walk to the west and North of the Stadium or follow the flow. However, I think student attendance may be lower because of Thanksgiving break. Visitors generally seem to park in an area known as Mockingbird Station to the East of the Stadium at a DART(Dallas Area Rapid Transit) station and take a bus across the highway. Close enough to consider even a taxicab split 4 ways if you don't want to mess with parking.
That hotel is near all of the Preston Center restaurants (Snuffers and Flying Fish are both well worth the experience). Stallion gave great advice regarding getting to the stadium. You don't want to mess with parking if you don't have to, so park at Mockingbird Station and take the buses to SMU (they usually say something like "Mustang Express" or something to that effect on them...basically just don't get on the large city buses and chances are you will end up at SMU). You can even walk to campus from Mockingbird Station if you want to.
Boulevard tailgating will meet or exceed your pregame needs, for sure. Crowd on the BLVD/in the stadium may be a little lighter than normal due to the upcoming Thanksgiving Break (many students will already be gone).
Haven't done the tour but JerryWorld is a very nice stadium and its size is simply unbelievable.
Go to MiCocinas in HP Village ( hotel will guide you) for excellent TexMex, Maragritas (Mombo Taxi) and shopping. HP Village is 2 miles max south of your hotel.
If you want to see the new stadium, tour is good but I don't see you having enough time.
Ford Stadium / Parking / Tailgate. Your hotel is just west of the stadium/smu. I would park in the residential area just west of Hillcrest Rd which runs N/S along and west of SMU near where Binkley Ave intersects Hillcrest. After parking, follow Binkley east across Hillcrest towards campus and you will walk right into the tailgate area/BLVD (Bishop Blvd running N/S through campus). Mockingbird station is east of smu and the stadium. Staying on the west side, you will avoid unnecessary driving and traffic delay. The university has many tents setup for alums and various groups - no problems geting food/beer/drinks here or from most of the tailgaters.
Last edited by SMU89 on Sun Nov 14, 2010 7:59 pm, edited 2 times in total.
It would be in your best interest to come and partake of our hospitality. No reason to cart all of your stuff when we are pretty nice on the boulevard. If you can find the spot marked "BUS Stop" or even easier to find, our next door neighbors have a large tent marked "Special Delivery", we can supply you with food and drink and point you to others who will do the same.
All those who believe in psycho kinesis, raise my hand
The Boulevard at SMU is set up much the same way "The Grove" is at Ole Miss. It's not really set up for visitors. No good area right there on campus. You can find places well removed (north and east) from Stadium, but won't be in the center of activity. With a small group, you might find some folks on the Blvd willing to extend some SMU hospitality.
Several years ago, I took my 2 young kids to Ole Miss to catch a Mustang game there and we were welcomed into The Grove, kids were offered hot dogs & soda; I enjoyed having a couple of cold ones with the locals. I've heard good things about people at Marshall and how they treat their visitors. Hopefully someone will step up and make you guys feel welcome after making that kind of road trip.
Just make sure your football team minds it's manners as a visitor and allows us our 6th win
AaronHerd wrote:Thanks for the info guys, I will probably be checking back with more questions.
Are there any off the wall, hole in the wall type places to eat which we should hit instead of a bigger named place?
for breakfast, you might want to try Bubba's...or, a longer drive to Harry Hines & Walnut Hill: Mecca. As with the rest of these recommendations, they are google-able.
You are welcome at a tent that has a banner that reads Boulevard Social Club towards the south end. However we plan to make your drive back to west virginia very unpleasant.
These are the two bars closest to campus. They are on SMU Blvd. on the other side of Central Expressway. At either place you would enjoy yourself. Fun fact: Milo's was used in bar scenes in "Born on the Fourth of July."
We are going to be able to be at the game Saturday, too. I was going to ask if ya'll recommended buying a parking ticket for the garage, but seems like Binkley/Hillcrest area would work.
